Kazoo takes Toboggan

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Having ridden Kazoo nine previous times in the horse's career, Richard Migliore knew immediately that the 8-year-old horse was going to run as well as he could in Saturday's $107,400 . What Migliore wasn't sure about was whether it would be good enough to win the Grade 3 sprint stakes.

But after putting away favored Bishop Court Hill turning for home, Kazoo was never challenged in the final furlong en route to a four-length victory in the Toboggan before 4,818 at balmy Aqueduct.

Bishop Court Hill, who won the Paumonok last out, held second by a nose over Wild Jam. High Blitz, the 2-1 favorite, finished fourth, followed by Banjo Picker and Primary Suspect.

It was the first stakes victory for Migliore since he returned to race riding on March 3 following a five-month layoff because of injury.

Kazoo, an 8-year-old son of Tabasco Cat trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., won his first stakes since December 2002. It was his 10th win from 38 career starts.

Breaking from the rail, Kazoo jumped out on top and carved out fractions of 22.07 and 44.61 seconds for the first half-mile. Bishop Court Hill, under Jose Santos, chased in second, but could not quicken when Kazoo did.

Kazoo covered the six furlongs in 1:09.22 over a fast inner track and returned $13 to win.

"Any time I've ridden him and he's shown up and run that kind of race, he leaves the way he left the gate today, with nothing but run on his mind," Migliore said.

"His 'A' race is awful good, I just didn't know if he had one that big in him, being 8 years old."

Kazoo, owned by a partnership headed by the International Equine Acquisitions Holdings Inc., was making just his second start since last September. He had been bothered by quarter cracks after he won a fourth-level allowance race at Monmouth Park, according to Mike Sherack, vice president of investor relations for International Equine.